Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1887-04-22
WASHINGTON LETTER.
tFrom our Regular Correspondent. ,

The past week rs well as the present
one Ia replete with anniversaries winch
the old residents of Washington can never
forget. Twenty-Five years ago last FRI
day morning Abraham Lincoln died of
the cruel wound inflicted by John Wilkes
Booth at Ford's Theatre. The sensation
produced by the assassination of the great
War President thrilled the Capital like
the iremor of an earthquake.
The whole country quivered with the
shock. There had never been nor has
there been here since such period of hor.
or, Indignation, Ind apprehension. II wns
even fenrc5 that the tragedy might tenn
por1riy undoithe work that had just been
achieved and again unsetile the founda-
tiors Of the public pence. Every one WAS
frs htened, every one was regarded with
snpicion. Neighbors, yes, even old
friends eyed each other askance, while ar
rests were SO plentiful as to justify and
prolong the intense excitement.
The belief that the handsome, hot-blood.
ment of a we'll formed conspiracy, in which
many men Of note were concerned, made
people afraid OF members OF their own
family. Martial law practically prevailed,
and 1t was we'll nigh impossible to pass
the city limits. No man was without aus.
picion and Il seemed as II chaos itself had
control. Never was a nation more torn
by excitement, or more sorely tried, and
then the other attempted assassin ations,
and the wild cry for vengeance-but it is
an old, old story.
II was the final baptism of the Union
In blood, and although the great war went
out in tears, IL LETT behind II more indie
structible than ever, all glorious without
and within, the principles OF constitutional
liberty, equality and fraternity, for which
Lincoln, yielding the best years OF his life
itself at last.
Today the streets Of the city have been
6lled with colored people and the music of
braas bands. II Is the twenty.fifth ami
versaries Of the emancipation of slaves
IN the District of Columbia, and it has
been celebrated with a street parade and
other exercises. The celebration was one
Of the largest OF the kind which has ever
taken place here, and there were about
10000 people IN the procession. It's line
Of March was through the White House
grounds, and the President reviewed 1t,
standing on the front porlico Of the Man
sion.
| The decision OF the Inter State Com
mission that there is nothing In the law TO
prohibit the railroads from granting re-
duced rates TO organizations and individ-
uals coming to the National Drill, will re.
lieve good many people In different parts
Of the country OF misapprehension as 10
the Interpretation OF the law, and will
tend greatly TO increase the crowd In at
tendance. As :he time draws near all the
leading railroad lines are making arrange.
ments for carrying immense crowds OF eI-
cursionista.
The White Lot, where the contest will
take place, has been turned over by The
War Department to the Drill committee
and the erection Of grand stands tor spec.
tators will commence at once. Some o.
the troops are coming In advance OF III,
Drill, and consequently the work OF put
ling the Monument grounds in condition
for.the camp has TO be carried on as rap.
idly a. possible. One of the unseitle,
queslIons 10, "What soldier will be calle,
TO the command 2" II is urged that b.
, should be ono oi wide reputation. Their
. will be an immense concourse OF Aneri-
( cans gathered here and the arrangement
should be as national as possible In ever,
g particular.
A The Bureau Of Information and Com
/, fort OF the Drill committee, has ISSUED
I circular announcing that for the bene6
q Of strangers and visitors in the city the
/, propose 10 keep list OF hotels, boardin
|. and lodging houses, where rooms and bee
II with and without meals can DO had. Room
n OF all kinds and CLASSES are registered /
|. prices ranging from 81 upwards, aud mea
can be had from rs cents upwards.
a The Senatorial Select Committee, whic
/. Ia investigating the workings Of the E,
|. ecutive Department here, and trying
4 probe their methods. has undertaken
!. gigantic task. When It's final report
70 made. however, the result Of its lAbors wi
lc doubtless be interesting and abound IN
% kind OF information which is now a scale
N book TO the public. The committes h,
an excellent opportunity 10 find out I,
u the benefit Of the public also. wheth
y Civil Service Reform 10 really all that |
sr friends claim. or whether 1t Il = fraud,
argued by its opponents.